_Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding._ A GREAT EVIL AND AN URGENT QUESTION I. A great evil. “Backsliding.” 1. It is an evil in its nature; it is a great sin against God, involving the basest ingratitude, the abuse of the greatest mercies, and the violation... [ Continue Reading ]
_They hold fast deceit._ ON THE DECEITFULNESS OF THE HEART IN STIFLING CONVICTIONS These words, as immediately referring to the people of Judah, might denote their preposterous confidence in the assistance of neighbouring nations, or in the testimony of their false prophets, who assured them of pe... [ Continue Reading ]
_I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done?_ GOD’S INQUISITION 1. That God hath an ear and an eye to our carriage and dispositions, to our speeches and courses. If we had one always at our backs that would inform such a man wha... [ Continue Reading ]
_But My people know not the Judgment of the Lord._ A SET TIME FOR JUDGMENT The judgment of God is either directive, corrective, or destructive. This last is meant here. It is spoken of the judgment of utter ruin and desolation upon whom the former judgment has not taken due effect. In the count of... [ Continue Reading ]
_The stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times._ INSTINCT CONTRASTED WITH REASON IN ITS DISCERNMENT OF TIMES I. The birds of passage show in their periodic migrations, their discernment of seasons, and this both as regards the time of their visiting and the time of their leaving us. Probably... [ Continue Reading ]
_They have healed the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace._ HEALED OR DELUDED? WHICH? The people among whom Jeremiah dwelt had received a grievous hurt, and they felt it, for they were invaded by cruel enemies, their goods were plundered, their c... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you._ PENALTY There are countries that are desolated by animals; there have been harvests eaten by locusts; there have been vineyards stripped by insects; there is, therefore, no violence in the figure, and there is nothing of the nature of exaggeration. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is not the Lord in Zion?_ A DISCOURSE FOR A REVIVAL SEASON These words, as they stand in the Book of Jeremiah, were probably meant to set forth the sin of Israel. The prophet’s heart is very full of sadness; he can hear the cries of the people in the streets of Jerusalem. They are moaning for sorr... [ Continue Reading ]
_The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved._ HARVEST PAST, SUMMER ENDED, AND MEN UNSAVED The passage is full of lamentation and woe, and yet it is somewhat singular that the chief mourner here is not one who needed chiefly to be in trouble. Jeremiah was under the special protec... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is there no balm in Gilead?_ Is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of My people recovered? PHYSIC FROM HEAVEN I. The balsam tree is a little shrub, never growing past the height of two cubits, and spreading like a vine. The tree is of an ash colour, the boughs sm... [ Continue Reading ]